INTERCHANGE OR TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 9 April 1924, Page 14

INTERCHANGE OR TEACHERS

NEED OF A "HOME CENTRE"

RESIDENTIAL HEADQUARTERS FOR VISITORS.

CPROa OUK OTTN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 14th February. An appeal is being issued by the League of Empire on behalf of the proposal to establish a residential home centre for the overseas teachers coming to this country in connection with the scheme for the interchange of teachers between the Mother Country and the Dominions, initiated by the league in ISO 7.

The appeal, in the form of a letter, has appeared in the London Press. ' It is signed by Princess Louise, tho Duchess of Argyll, Lord Burnham, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Frederick Pollock, the Duchess of Devonshire, the Duchess of^Atholl, M.P., and others. "Some 100 or more overseas teachers," it is stated in the course of this letter, "are at the present time stationed in or near London, some of them on the interchange system,' soma of them on long leave for purposes of; study. All are connected with the league's" work, which includes lectures, classes, visits to historic places, and arrangements for travel to places in England and on the Continent. Tho benefit these teachers have received has found ample testimony in the tributes which they have addressed to their own associations and oducation authorities. . Not only is the teacher helped to a broader outlook, but silently and surely through the exchange of teachers tho Empire is being drawn together in bonds.of affection and better understanding. This work costs nothing to the country. The teachers pay their own expenses, and s the organisation of the scheme is carried out entirely by voluntary effort. One great need remains which is the more urgent as the work increases—namely, a residential headquarters for the league (a 'home centre,' as the overseas teachers themselves express it) in London, -where teachers from any part of the Empire can. be properly housed; where, too, those from the different' Dominions can meet and become intimate.

A WAR MEMORIAL. "As a matter of precaution also this home is needed. These teachers come from different climates; those from Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand from a warmer climate, those from Canada from a country where there is central -.heating both in houses and schools. They come to entirely different conditions_ of work and lite, and their health has in many cases been considerably affected. Many of the overseas teachers are living in single rooms and doing for themselves, in order to have money to travel arid visit other parts of England. "Once a residential headquarters is secured there need be no further expense, for the payment -by the teachers themselves will cover all running expenses. As things stand there is anxiety because. in cases of illness, and in cases.where operations have been necessary, there has been no sick-room in which to nurse patients and send them out fit to continue their work. •"The home centre is to be a memorial to the teachers who fell in tho war, a memorial which would bring comfort to their colleagues botli in the present and in the future. Over £2000 has already been collected, and we now ask subscriptions from all those who desire a broader outlook for the teacher and who recognise the importance of this profession. We also appeal to the teachers of the. United Kingdom each to give a small donation for the comfort of their overseas colleagues, and we ask . the consideration of any who might have a suitable house and be willing to place it at the disposal of the league on favourable terms. With the help of all a great need can 'be met and a great work furthered. Subscriptions and offers of help should bo addressed to the hon. treasurer, Sir Philip Hutchins, X.C.5.1., League of the Empire, 124, Belgrave road, London,